Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 18 horses entered on Saturday 3 October: Matamata and Hawera in New Zealand, one horse entered at Flemington, Melbourne, and one horse entered at Gunbower, Victoria.

Matamata: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft6, rail: true. Showers forecast Saturday.

12:30 p.m. R1 6 Chica De Oro (4 m Medaglia d’Oro – Channeled’s Lady) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she received a nice trip in the trail and rolled home solidly for fourth in a trial on 8 September at Rotorua. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres, she raced well in three starts to 2100 metres last season, has placed on this course, and is ideally drawn (4) to resume with a solid showing - one of two mares in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

12:30 p.m. R1 10 Arrazola (4 m Almanzor – Shanzam) – Michael McNab; she found the line for third in her last two starts over 1400 metres at Taupo, and also contests the Maiden 1600 metres. The sister to Group Three winner and multiple Group placed Mary Shan, her Group Three winning grand-dam Shanzero (Danzero) impressed over 1600 metres, and this lass beings the right form to prove competitive but will require luck from her wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.55.

1:03 p.m. R2 2 No Curfew (3 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he quickened out of the pack for second when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 16 September, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. The brother to Te Akau purchased and trained Group and Listed winner Wild Night, he went a super race good first-up, and has a handy gate (5) to see him present as a genuine top three chance. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

1:03 p.m. R2 15 Aquadream (3 f Written Tycoon – Seababe) – unfixed; she steadied to travel three back on the outer and lengthened stride nicely for fourth in a trial on 25 August at Waipa. Debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, she is by the same sire (Written Tycoon) of Te Akau bought and trained Group One winner Captured By Love. Her dam Seababe (Sebring) won four races from 1500m – 1900m in Australia, and she shapes to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.50.

1:35 p.m. R3 4 Pilates (4 m Savabeel – Splits) – Michael McNab; she settled back last, remained well held together, but went through the line with more to offer in a trial on 22 September at Avondale, with Michael McNab also aboard on that occasion. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she won both trials before a solid debut in January, is the sister to Te Akau trained stakes’ winner Scrutinize, and rates a top three chance first-up. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.25.

2:07 p.m. R4 4 Avantaggia (4 m Wootton Bassett – Avantage) – Craig Grylls; she went forward into second and quickened inside the 200m to finish a close second in a trial on 15 September at Ellerslie. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she ended her previous campaign with an impressive win over 1200 metres at Ellerslie. She is beautifully bred, being out of Te Akau purchased and trained nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), and if the track does not deteriorate, she can be right in the thick of the finish from barrier four - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.65.

2:07 p.m. R4 11 Thumbelina (4 m Per Incanto – Matauri) – Michael McNab; she got back and remained well held while running on for fourth with more to offer in a trial on 8 September at Rotorua, likewise with McNab aboard. She too resumes in the Rating 75 1200 metres, and ended her previous campaign with back-to-back impressive wins over 1200 metres. With that form and ability, and fresh up, she can make a good impression here if she can overcome the negative gate (13). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20. 

2:07 p.m. R4 13 Sibling Rivalry (4 m Satono Aladdin – Justlikeyasister) – Cooper Stumbles (a4); she secured a nice trip fourth on the outer and quickened stylishly to win a trial on 8 September at Rotorua, also with the Te Akau apprentice in the saddle. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she has been a dual winner to 1200 metres, enjoys weight relief to 50kg, and possesses the ability to prove competitive with a decent trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $19.00 & $4.80.

2:46 p.m. R5 8 Born To Be Royal (4 m King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Craig Grylls; she has produced two solid efforts for fourth at Te Rapa, most recently in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 13 September, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. Twice Group Two placed before her course/distance Maiden win, from barrier four, she is poised to pounce, she’ll give a good sight. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.75.

4:02 p.m. R7 10 Crown Princess (5 m Embellish – Princess Davone) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she received an economical trip on the inner and ran on well behind the leaders for fourth in a trial on 24 September at Avondale. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, she was second here in  the South Waikato Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m), has scored twice on good footing, and is more than capable of a bold showing fresh-up - the first of a stable duo lining up in the race. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.80. 

4:02 p.m. R7 11 Typhoon Lucy (4 m Dundeel – Stormy Lucy) – Michael McNab; she raced clear for  a fresh-up victory in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 16 September, also with Michael McNab aboard, and likewise contests the Rating 75 1600 metres. She is certainly a talented individual, who remains unbeaten in two starts on this course, and she looks to be a real top three chance from barrier three. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.40. 

4:37 p.m. R8 3 What You Wish For (6 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Craig Grylls; he ran the fastest last 600m (33.8) getting home strongly for second when resuming in the Open Handicap 1500 metres last Friday at Te Rapa, and backs up in the $80,000 Listed Fairview Matamata Kaimai Stakes (1600m). A stakes’ winner on course over 2000 metres, he has also been Group placed, and brings a good course and distance record. With the blinkers on, he can claim line honours from barrier five - one of two stable mates in the feature. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.75.

4:37 p.m. R8 7 Top Shelf (5 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Hayley Hassman (a); she delivered fresh-up off a tough trip in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 19 September at Ellerslie, and also contests the Listed Fairview Matamata Kaimai Stakes. A smart winner over 1600 metres, she was second in Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m), has the talent to prove competitive, but requires everything to go her way from the wide draw (17). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

5:13 p.m. R9 5 Kygo Star (4 g Wootton Bassett – Star Karen) – Opie Bosson; he was caught back and wide when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 13 September at Te Rapa, and is one of two for the stable lining up in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Lightly raced, he won his Maiden over 1400 metres on Heavy9 footing, and is perfectly drawn (4) to show improvement. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

5:13 p.m. R9 16 Cease And Desist (4 g Zoustar – No Evidence Needed) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he travelled boldly into second and sustained a very good gallop for a close second in a trial on 15 September at Ellerslie. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, he has been a course winner over 1600 metres, and this is the perfect chance for him to return with an encouraging performance given a decent trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

Hawera: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft7, rail: true. 7mls rain forecast Saturday. 

12:45 p.m. R1 11 Concurrence (3 c Tagaloa – Consensus) – Wiremu Pinn; he circled widest from off the pace for third when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 16 September at Matamata, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. By Group 1 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa), out of Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner Consensus (Postponed), he has breeding on his side, is still a colt and finds a good opportunity to further improve if he can overcome the tricky barrier nine. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.85.

2:58 p.m. R5 9 Altari (5 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Wiremu Pinn; he steadied for cover from his outside gate, was third in the straight and finished strongly for second in a trial on 8 September at Rotorua. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, he has been a dual winner in a fresh state to 1500 metres, and shapes to race well despite the niggle of a wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

3:34 p.m. R6 1 Qali Al Farrasha (6 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Wiremu Pinn; she found a nice spot in fourth and quickened well over the concluding stages to finish a close third in a trial on 15 September at Ellerslie, also with Wiremu Pinn aboard. Resuming in the $100,000 Group 3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), she won the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) last season, is four-times Group One placed, is clearly the highest rated (102) and deserves respect as a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70.

Flemington:

Weather: raining, track: Heavy9, rail: out 9 metres. 12mls rain forecast Friday and Saturday.

5:05 p.m. (NZ) - 2:05 p.m. (Vic) R4 8 Tolaga Bay (3 f Alabama Express – Camila Lucinda) – Michael Dee; she finished fifth after working overtime near the pace in Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on 19 September at Caulfield, and contests the A$300,000 Group 2 TAB ONE POOL Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m). She was unbeaten in two starts prior, undoubtedly has the talent to prove competitive, but much will depend on her handling conditions. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.60.

Gunbower:

Weather: fine, track: Good3, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast Saturday.

4:55 p.m. (NZ) - 1:55 p.m. (Vic) R3 14 Big Trouble (3 f So You Think – Kylia) – Alana Kelly; she finished sixth after sharing a competitive pace when debuting in the Maiden 1000 metres on 30 August at Echuca, and contests the A$25,000 Maiden 1100 metres. She showed pace in her jump out prior to commencing, but sits at ballot four and looks unlikely to gain a start.

Main picture - What You Wish For winning